Obama, Biden to Attend Memorial for W.Va. Miners
The White House says President Barack Obama will deliver a eulogy Sunday for the 29 miners killed in a West Virginia coal mine explosion.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will attend a memorial service for the miners in Beckley, W.Va.
The April 5 blast at the Upper Big Branch mine was the nation's worst coal mine disaster since 1970. Obama has ordered a sweeping review of mine safety records and called for stronger mining laws.
A preliminary report released April 15 suggested that the blast may have been preventable.
The report said the cause may have been a buildup of methane gas mixing with coal dust. Such explosions, according to the report, can be prevented when mine operators properly control the levels of methane and coal dust.
The mine saw a major spike in safety violations last year. The report says the rate of repeated serious violations was nearly 19 times the national rate.
Related:
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W.Va. Official: Bodies of 29 Miners Recovered
West Va. Panel Wants Greater Role in Mine Probe
Churchgoers Honor 29 Dead Miners
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Photos: W. Va. Mine Explosion
The preliminary report was delivered hours after Mr. Obama ordered an exhaustive federal review of coal mine safety Thursday and asked Congress to strengthen existing laws "riddled with loopholes."
"We can't just hold mining companies accountable. We have to hold Washington accountable," Mr. Obama said. "I refuse to accept any number of miner deaths as simply a cost of doing business."